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Magnetar explosions could be responsible for up to 10% of the Milky Way's gold, researchers say
Scientists have confirmed that radiation flares from magnetars, the most extreme neutron stars in the universe, can forge vast quantities of gold, platinum and even uranium in seconds. This discovery changes everything we knew about the origins of the most valuable metals in the cosmos.
Cosmic radiation flares shake up long-held theories about the origin of the universe's heaviest metals
A flare of radiation detected in space is making scientists rethink everything we knew about the origins of metals like gold, platen and uranium. Researchers led by Brian Metzger of the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics have discovered that violent magnetar outbursts can generate these precious metals in a matter of seconds. The amount? Billions upon billions of kilograms in a single event.
An explosion and tons of gold: what are magnetars?
Magnetars are hypercompact neutron stars, with more mass than the Sun compressed into a sphere of just 20 km. Their magnetic field is more intense of the universe, trillions of times stronger than anything known on Earth. Getting close to one of them is impossible, but if it were, just their presence could mess with their atoms. It is in this absurd environment that the rarest elements in the universe are born.
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How Magnetars Generate Rare Earth Metals in Seconds
During their explosions, these stars release energy in the form of X-rays and gamma rays, at levels so high that they even affect satellites on Earth. A single eruption can form up to two million billion billion kilograms of heavy elements. These explosions are compared to veritable cosmic factories, where neutrons collide with lighter elements and create atoms such as gold and uranium.
According to Metzger, this is only the second time that science has seen direct evidence of where these metals come from. The process, called the “r-process,” occurs in extremely dense environments full of free neutrons, just like in magnetar explosions.
The new origin of gold and the revolution in astronomy
Previously, it was believed that gold and other heavy metals came mostly from supernovae or neutron star mergers. discovery recent, however, shows that magnetar flares may be responsible for up to 10% of these metals in our galaxy.
This type of explosion is still rare and difficult to capture in real time, but there are already important records, such as the event observed in December 2004. At the time, telescopes detected a gamma glow minutes after the explosion, which scientists now believe was the cooling of newly formed heavy elements.
The impact of these discoveries on the future of science
In practice, understanding how gold arises in the universe is not just a scientific curiosity. These metals are the basis of modern technologies, from smartphones to space systems. The discovery also explains why some metals appear earlier than expected in young galaxies: Magnetars come into action before other cosmic events.
And the most fascinating thing: it could be that some of the gold used today in chips or rings came from the fury of a magnetar billions of years ago.
What's Next: Upcoming Eruptions and Tracking with New Telescopes
Future missions as Compton Spectrometer and Imager, scheduled for 2027, should allow for more precise monitoring of these phenomena. With modern instruments sensitive to multiple wavelengths, scientists hope to capture new eruptions in real time.
By observing the radioactive glow and the isotopes formed in the explosion, it will be possible to understand more about how matter evolves in the universe. And perhaps, finally, unlock all the secrets of stellar gold.
